Nancy Elliott
Realtor, GRI, e-PRO
(941) 639-5780
225 Sullivan St.
Punta Gorda, Florida
33950
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Striving to guide you toward your goal whether buying or selling. Feel free to get in contact for more information. Honest, professional service is my standard always...!
Nancy@NancyElliott.com
Buying, selling...?...Why you need a Realtor - click here
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Scroll down for blogs, local information & recipes
Welcome to Nancy's blog ...
On this page there will be much show and tell. Check the local sites on the "favorite links" page for many interesting photos of this wonderful unique area that more and more people choose to call home. I believe photographs capture a moment in time and offer an expression better than words.
My main focus is to offer assistance to you when selling or buying real estate. Let my knowledge, education and experience in this complex marketplace go to work for you. Please, take some time to explore my site. Feel free to leave an inquiry or comment on the home page.
For many years I cooked professionally. I still put a meal on the dinner table daily using fresh ingredients that are both visually appealing, healthy and flavorful. All accomplished in a minimum amount of time, and with thoughtful preparation. Even the cleanup can be quick and easy. Cooking is a good way for me to unwind from the fast paced life as a realtor, allowing me to be creative and still have instant satisfaction. On this page, I will share some of my favorite recipes for those who share my passion for food.
I hope you will find this site interesting and informative, returning again and again. I encourage and welcome your inquiries, comments, and recipes.
Thank you stopping and come back soon.......!!!
Now is the time to buy:
Search here for property
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Recipes for ... Kentucky Derby and
Mother's Day
Mint Julep - Ingredients
- 6 to 8 mint leaves
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Crushed ice
- 2 1/2 ounces bourbon
- Splash Simple Syrup, recipe follows
- Sprig mint, for garnish
Directions
Put the mint leaves and the sugar in the bottom of a tall glass. With the handle of a wooden spoon, crush and mash the leaves to extract the flavor. Fill the glass with crushed (not cubed) ice. Pour in the bourbon. Top with a splash of simple syrup.
With a long-handled spoon, jiggle (not stir) to chill and mix. Garnish with a sprig of mint. Sip.
Simple Syrup:
Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool completely.
Yield: About 1 1/2 cups simple syrup
A little something to go with the mint juleps
Pecorino Crackers
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups grated pecorino Romano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine the cheese, salt, pepper, and cayenne in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Add the butter. Using a hand mixer, beat the cheese mixture and butter until combined. Add the flour 1/4 cup at a time, mixing only until incorporated and the mixture holds together.
Place tablespoon-sized balls of the dough on 1 or 2 parchment paper-lined baking sheets, tapping the dough down gently with your fingertips. Bake until just beginning to brown at the edges, about 15 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Transfer to a serving plate.
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Mother's Day...Easy Cinnamon Bread French Toast
French Toast Recipe
This French toast recipe is simple, classic and elegant. Thick slices of good-quality cinnamon bread are what really sets this French toast apart from the rest. Serve with sliced strawberries and maple syrup.
Ingredients:
- 6 large eggs
- 1 cup half and half
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 8 1-inch thick slices cinnamon bread (preferably from a bakery)
- 2-4 Tbsp. butter
Preparation:
- Whisk eggs, half and half, buttermilk, vanilla and cinnamon together in a large bowl.
- Dip two slices of cinnamon bread into the egg mixture, turning to coat. Let the bread soak up the egg custard while you heat the skillet.
- Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the French toast slices to the skillet. Cook until golden brown. Flip and cook until golden brown on the other side.
- Repeat with remaining bread slices. Serve topped with sliced strawberries and syrup.
Love your mother...you only have one...!!!
EAT, ENJOY,PEACE...!!!
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NEWS YOU CAN USE
3 tips for smart vacation-home buying
Shoppers can find lots of good deals in vacation homes at the moment. In many second-home hot spots, prices remain close to five-year lows.
A buyer looking to cash in on vacation- or second-home values should consider the following:
1. Is it rentable? Even if a buyer isn’t planning to rent, he or she may still want to consider the rental aspects of the property, particularly since a home’s rental potential can affect its resale value, says Catherine Jeffrey, a real estate professional in Fredericksburg, Texas. Buyers should check with the homeowners association or township to ensure that short-term rentals are allowed.
2. How do you plan to use the home? The loan rate depends, in part, on how the property will be used. For example, if buyers intend to use the property primarily as a second home, they’ll pay about the same mortgage rate as a primary residence, says HSH Associates vice president Keith Gumbinger. However, if they plan to get rental income from the property, the property will be treated as an investment, which means they may need to pay as much as 25 percent of the buying price for the downpayment and up to one percentage point more in interest.
3. Are you eligible for the tax benefits? If owners rent the house for two weeks or less per year, they won’t have to report income to the IRS, and they’ll be able to deduct property taxes and mortgage interest. If the owners stay in the home for less than two weeks or have 10 percent rental days, whichever is greater, they’ll be able to deduct operating costs, such as cleaning and maintenance fees, as well as the interest and property tax, says Rick Shapiro, a CPA in West Hartford, Conn. He suggests homeowners talk with a tax expert to find out what tax benefits apply.
Source: “5 Things to Know About Buying a Vacation Home,” CNNMoney.com
© Copyright 2011 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD
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Small do-it-yourself projects with a big payoff
KANSAS CITY, Miss. –They make it look so easy, those do-it-yourselfers. They rip out kitchen floors, lay ceramic tile and install cabinets without any major accidents or irrevocable damage to their marriages.
Well, great for you. Yes, you’re winning.
Some of us lack the energy, patience and desire to commit to major home improvements. Yet, there are plenty of small-scale projects that offer big returns.
We surveyed some experienced real estate agents about budget – and time-friendly projects that can substantially enhance a home. Homeowners can tackle most of these tasks in a weekend, without much DIY angst or expense.
Susie Johnson, with Coldwell Banker Gundaker in St. Louis, says the key is to notice details.
“Dated light fixtures are a cheap fix,” she said. “When you walk into a foyer, you notice the front light fixture.”
Bathroom and kitchen updates are traditionally the top places to invest in a makeover that pays off.
Colleen Lawler, also with Coldwell Banker Gundaker, is a proponent of kitchen “jewelry” – eye-appealing hardware that instantly updates a room. “You can buy a box of 30 knobs that comes with a template,” she said. Current hardware adds a finishing touch.
In a bathroom, an older vanity can be stripped and refinished with some guidance from an expert at a paint store.
“We have had beautiful results with repainting oak cabinets,” Lawler said. By painting a vanity black and adding brushed nickel or oil rubbed bronze hardware, the cabinetry goes from looking circa 1990 to modern. “It’s a huge face-lift,” Lawler said. She recommends using a good-quality paint and spending time in prepping the material.
A simpler suggestion is to replace old towel racks or get rid of old brass doorknobs, she said. Even if the hinges are a darker bronze finish, new doorknobs make a big difference in some homes.
A more complicated task involves replacing the standard, builder-grade trim with upgraded floor molding, she said. It requires being able to miter the corners of the baseboard or use a standard corner block to fill the gap.
“Light fixtures, plumbing fixtures and paint are the top three things just about anyone can do or have a friend help them do,” she said.
Our staff tackled a few of our own DIY projects, ranging from an ambitious attempt to make over a bathroom vanity to using tape and paint to update a wall. We discovered the redecorating power of a can of spray paint and the stunning impact of adding mosaics to a patio.
For the novice to the experienced, there’s a way to feel the pride of fixing or beautifying your home – and doing it all by yourself.
© 2011 St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Aisha Sultan.
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Click here: Maintain and Enhance Your home's value
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FUN & INTERESTING THINGS TO DO IN PUNTA GORDA AND ALL OVER CHARLOTTE COUNTY, FL. FEBRUARY HAPPENINGS IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY
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Charlotte Stone Crabs Regular Season
Apr. – Sep. 2011
Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean Rd., Port Charlotte
please call 941-206-HITS
Charlotte Sone Crabs
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The Dixie Swim Club by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, Jamie Wooten
Wednesday, Apr. 27 – Sunday, May. 15, 2011
Lemon Bay Playhouse, 96 West Dearborn St., Englewood
(941) 475-6756
The Dixie Swim Club
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2011 Punta Gorda Redfish Festival
Saturday, Apr. 30 – Sunday, May. 1, 2011
Laishley Park, Punta Gorda
941-637-5953
2011 Punta Gorda Redfish Festival
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3v3 Live Soccer Tour
Saturday, Apr. 30 – Sunday, May. 1, 2011
North Charlotte Regional Park , Port Charlotte
3v3 Live Soccer Tour
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Home & Garden Show
Saturday, Apr. 30 – Sunday, May. 1, 2011
Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center, 75 Taylor Street, Punta Gorda
Home & Garden Show
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Suncoast Chorale presents classics Old and New
Sunday, May. 1, 2011
Englewood United Methodist Church, 700 East Dearborn Street, Englewood
Suncoast Chorale presents classics Old and New
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Suppressed Desires
Friday, May. 6 – Saturday, May. 7, 2011
Langdon Playhouse, 1182 Market Circle, Port Charlotte
(941) 255-1022
Suppressed Desires
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Fine Arts & Crafts Show
Saturday, May. 7 – Sunday, May. 8, 2011
Fishermen's Village, Marion Avenue, Punta Gorda
(941) 639-8721
Fine Arts & Crafts Show
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All Release Tarpon Tournament
Wednesday, May. 18 – Thursday, May. 19, 2011
Boca Grande Pass , Port Charlotte
(941) 468-5176
All Release Tarpon Tournament
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Boca Grande Fishing Guides Associations Invitational Tarpon Tournament
Wednesday, May. 18 – Thursday, May. 19, 2011
Englewood
Boca Grande Fishing Guides Associations Invitational Tarpon Tournament
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Hibiscus Festival
Friday, May. 20 – Saturday, May. 21, 2011
Gilchrist Park, Punta Gorda, Punta Gorda
Hibiscus Festival
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Laughter on the 23rd Floor
Friday, May. 20 – Saturday, May. 28, 2011
Cultural Center of Charlotte County, 2280 Aaron Street, Port Charlotte
(941) 625-4175
Laughter on the 23rd Floor
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Caged Bird Show
Sunday, May. 22, 2011
Charlotte County Fairgrounds, 2333 El Jobean Rd, Across from the Charlotte Sports Park, SR 776, Port Charlotte
For more information call 941-475-3440.
Caged Bird Show
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Memorial Day Ceremony
Monday, May. 30, 2011
Fishermen's Village, 1200 Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda
800-639-0020
Memorial Day Ceremony
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Discovery Punta Gorda Trolley & River Boat Tours
Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010 – Tuesday, May. 24, 2011
2nd and 4th Tuesday
Punta Gorda, Punta Gorda
941-639-3720
Trolley & River Boat Tours
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Cultural Center of Charlotte County
Saturday, Jan. 1 – Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011
Cultural Center of Charlotte County, 2280 Aaron Street, Port Charlotte
(941) 625-4175
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The Charlotte Performing Arts Center
Saturday, Jan. 1 – Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011
The Charlotte Performing Arts Center, 701 Carmalita Street, Punta Gorda
(941) 505-7469
The Charlotte Performing Arts Center
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Peace River Audubon Society Walk-Abouts
Tuesday, Jan. 4 – Tuesday, May. 3, 2011
First Tuesday of the Month October - May
Please call for Locations, Port Charlotte
(941) 613-6753
Walk-Abouts
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Live Music at the Bean Depot Cafe
Wednesday, Jan. 5 – Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011
Every Wednesday
4370 Garden Road, El Jobean , El Jobean
For more information call (941) 627-3344
Live Music at the Bean Depot Cafe
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Shallow Water Wading Adventures
Wednesday, Jan. 5 – Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011
Call for Dates
Punta Gorda
Shallow Water Wading Adventures
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Gilchrist Park Waterfront Music Jam Session
Thursday, Jan. 6 – Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011
Every Thursday
Gilchrist Park, 400 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda
941-661-5622
Gilchrist Park Waterfront Music Jam Session
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Live Entertainment at Fishermen's Village
Friday, Jan. 7 – Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011
Every Friday and Saturday
Fishermen's Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda
(941) 639-8721
Live Entertainment at Fishermen's Village
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Cruizin on Dearborn St
Saturday, Jan. 8 – Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011
First Saturday of the Month
West Dearborn Street, Englewood
(941) 474-5511
Cruizin on Dearborn St
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Saturday Night Live on Dearborn
Saturday, Jan. 8 – Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011
2nd Saturday of Every Month
Dearborn Street in Englewood, Englewood
941-474-5511
Saturday Night Live on Dearborn
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History Park Farmers Market
Sunday, Jan. 9 – Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011
Every Sunday
501 Shreve Street, between Virginia Ave. and Henry St., Punta Gorda
941-380-6814
History Park Farmers Market
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Muscle Car City's Monthly Car Show
Saturday, Jan. 15 – Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011
3rd Saturday of the Month
Punta Gorda, FL , 3811 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda
941.575.5959
Muscle Car City's Monthly Car Show
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Peace River Audubon Society Field trips
Saturday, Jan. 15 – Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011
Please call for Locations or check the website, Port Charlotte
(941) 613-6753
Field trips
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Downtown Punta Gorda Gallery Walk
Thursday, Jan. 20 – Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011
3rd Thursday of the month.
Punta Gorda Historic District, Punta Gorda
941-639-3720
Downtown Punta Gorda Gallery Walk
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Cruizin on Dearborn Street
Saturday, Feb. 5 – Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011
West Dearborn Street, Englewood
(941) 474-5511
Cruizin on Dearborn Street
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Punta Gorda Speedway Racing
Saturday, Feb. 26 – Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011
Every Saturday Night
Charlotte County Airport on Piper Road , Punta Gorda
CALL 941-575-7223
Punta Gorda Speedway Racing
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Now is the time to buy:
Search here for property
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a new airline has come, making three, updates coming
HOW TO GET HERE: Charlotte County Airport
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